The Society for Family Health (SFH) has identified significant gaps in family planning services in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
SHF said shortages of essential commodities and training tools are affecting service delivery, the organisation made this known after facility assessments conducted across the two states. Consequently, it called for urgent action to improve reproductive health services.
SFH Project Coordinator, Eze Nwokoma, said the assessment exposed critical shortages in health facilities. He noted that many centres lack essential materials needed for quality care.
In addition, he said facilities face shortages of service delivery commodities and training equipment. These gaps, therefore, affect both service quality and reporting systems.
“These included additional service delivery commodities, high-end insertion kits, anatomical models, and data collection tools,” he said.
Furthermore, he explained that weak reporting systems reduce the ability to track progress in family planning services.
Following the findings, SFH provided a package of family planning materials to Abia and Akwa Ibom governments. The intervention aims to strengthen healthcare delivery across both states.
Meanwhile, the supplies include insertion kits, procedure kits, pelvic models and family planning registers. They also include training manuals and reporting forms.
According to Nwokoma, the intervention will improve both service delivery and data collection. As a result, healthcare workers will receive better support on the job.
“These resources will strengthen routine reporting and enable continuous mentoring of providers,” he said.
Moreover, he added that the materials will support sustainable service delivery beyond the project period.
Officials from both states received the materials on behalf of their governments. Commissioners of Health and senior officials attended the handover ceremony.
Similarly, the state governments commended SFH for its continued partnership. They said the intervention would strengthen healthcare delivery systems.
In addition, they noted that the materials would improve the capacity of health workers. Therefore, service quality in family planning is expected to improve.
SFH said the intervention is part of its broader strategy to expand access to family planning services in Nigeria. It stressed that partnerships remain key to improving health outcomes.
However, it warned that gaps in supply chains and training must be addressed for long-term impact.
Consequently, SFH called for sustained collaboration with state governments. It said such cooperation will ensure continuity of service improvements.
Ultimately, SFH said the intervention will help more women and families access safe and reliable reproductive health services across both states.
